Signal-transmitting system.



No..'738, 302. v PATENTED SEPT.8,19 03.

'- E.'B.ELLICOTT.

SIGNAL TRANSMITTING SYSTEM. APPLIOATION FILED J m. 13, 1902.

no MODEL.

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Patented September 8, 1903.;

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDIVARD B. ELLIOOTT, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SIG NAL-TRANSMITTING SYSTEM.

GPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 738,302, dated September8, 1903.

' Application filed January 13, 1902. Serial No. 891501. (No model) Toall whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, EDWARD B. ELLIoorr, a citizen of the United States,residing at Ohicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented a certain new and useful Improvement in Signal TransmittingSystems, (Case No. 3,) o'fwhich the following is a full, clear, concise,and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to signal-transmittin g systems, and has for itsobject the provision. of an improved means whereby a plurality ofstations in electrical communication with a central oflice may beselectively actuated to convey the desired information.

My invention is more particularly applicable to systems wherein aplurality of circuits emanate from a central station and it is desiredby means of a single signal-sending apparatus to impress signals uponany of the circuits entering said central oflice without disturbingthose circuits to which it is undesirable to convey the said signal orinformation.

My invention may, for instance, in one embodiment thereof be employed inconnection with the various quarters for the engine or truck companiesof a fire departmentin which it is desirable to arrange a certain numberof individual circuits, each of which enters or is led to a centralolfice, each of said circuits containing in series the signalingapparatus of a given number of stations throughout the department. Thesignal-receiving apparatus on one circuit comprising, say, for instance,fifteen engine-or truck companies are thus conjointly actuated when asignal-sending instrument of said circuit is actuated, each of saidcircuits also having a signal-receiving instrument at the centralolfice. Each company upon leaving quarters or returning to quarters orupon the performance of any special dutyis required to transmit thisintelligence to the central oflice, at the same time transmitting thisintelligence to all the other engine or truck companies on the samecircuit. This intelligence which is thus received at the central oil-icemust then be transmitted to allof the remaining companies of the firedepartment, sothat each company is at all times apprised of the factwhether a companion company is at home or on duty at a fire orperforming some special duty. Itis undesirable in retransmittingintelligencereceived to the com panies not on the original circuit to retransrnitthis intelligence to those companies which have already received thisintelligence by be ing on the circuit of the company originallytransmitting the same. To accomplish this and yet retain the advantageof having a single signal-sending instrument actuate all thesignal-receiving instruments throughout the entire fire departmentexcept those upon a particular circuit which has been cut out, whichsignal-sending instrument is adapted to practically simultaneouslyactuate all of the said signal-receiving instruments, I employ inassociation with each separate and independent circuit an actuating-key,which actuating-keyis controlled by an electromagnet, all of whichcontrolling-electromagnets are included in parallel with a source ofcurrent and a master-key. The preferred means which I employ to cutoutany of the circuits or circuit so that the actuation of the masterkeywill not actuate the signal-receiving instruments on said circuitconsists in the provision of switching mechanism serially includingcontacts in each one of the parallel circuits of thecontrollingelectromagnets, which switching mechanism by its positionremoves the controlling-electromagnet which it is desired to cut outfrom the main controlling-circuit.

Further objects of my invention are the provision of simple and improvedmeans whereby no more manual effort is required to actuate all of thereceiving instruments throughout the department than is required toactuate the instruments along a single circuit.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will be hereinafter setforth. I will explain one embodiment of my invention as appliedparticularly to fire-alarm circuits in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, in which Figure 1 is a diagrammatical view showing thearrangement of the complete system. Fig. 2 is a detailed view of theswitch-actuating key with its associated springs.

My invention, as shown in the drawings, is

adapted more particularly foruse in signaling between the variousstations of the fire department. A central signal receiving and sendingstation a is shown, at which station there is provided a battery 1 andan actuatingkey 2, which is adapted to control the flow of current fromsaid battery through a plurality of circuits 1) b 12 &c., which areconnected in parallel relation. Each of the circuits 1) 1) b &c., has aswitch, respectively, 0 0 0 850., included serially in circuittherewith. The switches are preferably mounted in circular form beneatha dial, concentrically with which switches I prefer to mount anactuating-handle 3, which, depending upon the position of said handleupon the said dial, serves to open one or the other of the said switchesc c 0 &c. thus opening one of the associated circuits thereof b b, &c.

The actuating-handle 3 is provided, preferably, with aninsulating-button 4, which by engagement with the spring portion 4 ofeither of the switches a c, &c., removes or opens the contacts of thesaid switches. The controlling-switch, comprising the actuatinghandle 3and the switches c c, &c., thus by its position serves to open thecircuit through either one of the subcircuits b b, &c., so that when themaster-key 2 at the station a is depressed current is passed over all ofthesaid subcircuits excepting the particular one which is opened by thehandle 3. The master-key thus constitutes a unitary means for effectingthe propagation of signaling-current over a plurality ofsignaling-circuits.

Each of the subcireuits b b, 850., includes serially the helix of anelectromagnet d (1,

&c., which is energized when current passes through the said subeircuitsupon depressing the key 2 at the main station a. The electromagnets 01d, &c., are preferably placed below a plurality of key-contacts e e,&c.,wl1ich may preferably be in the style of the wellknown. Morse key,similarly to the key 2 at the main station a. The said Morse keys 0 e,&c., are serially included with a suitable source of current f and witha plurality of substations of the department.

I have shown 'more in detail the arrangement of a plurality of stationsas associated with the keys 6 and e, the stations associated with theremaining keys being omitted for the sake of clearness. The keys havecontacts 5 5, which close circuit through the battery f to include inthe subcircuit controlled by the said key the signaling and receivingapparatus at the substations e e e &c., the signal sending and receivingapparatus at each substation preferably consisting of the ordinarytelegraph key and relay.

A signal-receiving instrument in the shape of a relay 6 or 6 ispreferably located at the central station and included in each of thesubstation-circuits to receive signals sent by the substations and alsoto indicate and warn when a substation-circuit is open due to a brokenwire or the like. The armature and contact of said relay may be includedin circuit with a lamp, bell, or other indicating device.

It will be seen that with the construction as herein illustrated if theswitch-arm 3 with its associated button 4 depresses part 4E of switch 0,for instance, a depression of the master-key 2 at the station awill'energize all of the electromagnets d d &c., excepting, of course,the electromagnet d, which is cut out of circuit, due to the position ofthe switch 0. Each of the remaining electromagnets d (1 850., beingenergized, their associated contact-keys e 6 &c., are attracted, wherebycircuit is made or broken through the respective subcircuits includedwith the said keys, thereby actuating each one of the signal-receivinginstruments at all of the substations of the department, excepting thosewhich are included in the circuit associated with the key c.

To illustrate the usefulness of my invention in connection with systemsof this sort, I will give a specific example of the manner in which thesame may be employed. It is essential that each station of a firedepartment be apprised of all the movements of the apparatus at theassociated stations of the department, so that the conduct of saidstation maybe regulated accordingly. It is also necessary that eachsubstation inform the main office when the apparatus at said stationreturns from a fire or performs special duties of other kinds. It willbe apparent that if station e,, for instance, sends a message to thecentral office said message will while being received at the centraloffiee be also received at each of the stations e 6 850., which are uponthe same circuit. This signal, however, which is received at the centralstation a must be transmitted to all those stations of the departmentwhich have not already received the signal-that is, those stationsassociated, respectively, with the controlling-magnets d (1 &c. Theswitch-ar1n 3, with its contact 4, is thus moved to depress the part 4of switch 0, thus cutting out the circuit which has transmitted thesignal, whereafter the master-key 2 is manually actuated to send thesignal or message thus re ceived to the remaining stations of thedepartment through the agency of the electromagnets d (1*, -&c., withtheir associated circuits.

The advantages of my improved system whereby it is possible to transmitintelligence to a plurality of circuits without the necessity ofmanually-operated keys in each circuit will thus be apparent. It isobvious that by placing the handle 3 in proper position the master-keymay be actuated to convey intelligence over all of the circuits, ifdesired, instead of cutting out one or the other of the actuating meanscontrolling the subcircuits. The construction of the actuating means ofICO my invention is also such that the central office, at which the keys6 e, the. are located, may transmit intelligence along either one of thecircuits controlled by the said keys simply by manually actuating saidkeys, as described.

\Vhile I have thus shown and described one embodiment of my invention asapplied to a specific case, I do not wish to limit my self to suchapplication nor to the precise embodiment thereof herein shown; but,

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, the following: 1

1. In a signaling system, the combination with a plurality ofsubcircuits, each of said subcircuits including a plurality ofsignal-receiving instruments, of a key associated with each of saidsubcircuits to impress signalingcurrents thereon, a source of currentassociated with said subcircuits, electromagnets associated with saidkeys to cause the operation thereof upon being energized, a maincircuitin which said electromagnets are in cluded, a source of current in saidmain circuit, a master-key in said main circuit for controlling asimultaneous operation of said electromagnets, whereby signaling-currentis impressed upon all the said subcircuits, and switching mechanism forrendering any one of said electromagnets irresponsive to actuations ofsaid master-key, substantially as described.

2. I11 a signaling system, the combination with a plurality ofsubcircuits including a plurality of signal receiving and sendinginstruments,of a key associated with each of said subcircuits to impresssignaling-currents thereon, a source of current associated with saidsubcircuits, a relay included in each of said subcircuits for indicatingthe operative condition of said circuits, electromagnets associated withsaid keys to cause the operation thereof upon being energized, a maincircuit in which said electromagnets are included, a source of currentin said main circuit, a master-key in said main circuit for controllingthe simultaneous operation of said electromagnets, wherebysignaling-current may be impressed upon all of the subcircuits, andswitching mechanism for rendering any one of the said electromagnetsirresponsive to actuations of said master-key, substantially asdescribed.

3. In a signaling system, the combination with a plurality ofsubcircuits, each of said subcircuits including a plurality ofsignal-receiving instruments, of a key associated with each of saidsubcircuits to impress signalingcurrents thereon, a source of currentassociated with said subcircuits, electromagnets associated with saidkeys to cause the opera tion thereof upon being energized, a maincircuit in which said electromagnets are in cluded, a source of currentin said main circuit, a master-key in said main circuit for controllinga simultaneous operation of said electromagnets, wherebysignaling-current is impressed upon all the subcircuits, a switch forrendering any one of said electromagnets irresponsive to actuations ofsaid master-key, substantially as described.

at. In a signaling system, the combination with a plurality ofsubcircuits including a plurality of signal receiving and sendinginstruments, of a key associated with each of said subcircuits toimpress signaling currents thereon, a source of current associated withsaid subcircuits, a relay included in each. of said subcircuits forindicating the operative condition of said circuits, electromagnetsassociated with said keys to cause the operation thereof upon beingenergized, a main circuit in which said electromagnets are included, asource of current in said main circuit, a mastcr-key in said maincircuit for controlling thesimultaneous operation of saidelectromagnets, whereby signaling-current may be impressed upon all ofthe subcircuits, a switch for rendering any one of. said electromagnetsirresponsive to actuations of said master-key, and a plurality ofcontacts for said switch, one of said contacts being included seriallyin circuit with each of said electromagnets, substantially as described.

5. In a signaling system, the combination with a plurality ofsubcircuits, each of said subcircuits including a plurality ofsignal-receiving instruments, of a key associated with each of saidsubcircuits to impress signalingcurrents thereon, a source of currentassociated with said subcircuits, electromagnets associated with saidkeys to cause the operation thereof upon being energized, a main circuitin which said electromagnets are included, a source ofeurrent in saidmain circuit, a master-key in said main circuit for controlling asimultaneous operation of said electromagnets, whereby signalingcurrentis impressed upon all the subcircuits, a switch for rendering any one ofsaid electromagnets irresponsive to actuations of said master-key, and aplurality of contacts for said switch, one of said contacts beingincluded serially in circuit with each of said electromagnets,substantially as described.

6. In a signaling system, the combination with a plurality ofsubcircuits, said subcircuits including a plurality of signal sendingand receiving instruments and a source of current, of a key associatedwith each subcircuit for impressing signalingcurrents thereon,electromagnets associated with each of the aforesaid keys, adapted toactuate the same upon energization, a source of current and a master-keyfor controlling the flow of current from said source, circuits for saidelectromagnets, included in series parallel relation with said source ofcurrent and said master-key, and a switch included int-he circuit ofeach electromagnet, whereby to render said electromagnet inoperative,substantially as described.

. 7. The combination with a plurality of sub ITO & i

circuits each subcircuit including a plurality of signal sending andreceiving instruments.

and a source of current, of a key associated with each subcircuit forimpressing signalingcurrents thereon, electromagnets associated witheach of the aforesaid keys adapted to actuate the same uponenergization, a source of current and a master-key for controlling theflow of current from said source, circuits for said electromagnets, thesaid circuits being included in series parallel relation with the saidsource of current and said masterkey, and a switch included in thecircuit of each electromagnet to render the said electromagnet inoperative, said switch including serial contacts in each one of the saidelectromagnetcircuits said contacts being controlled by theswitch-handle of the switch, substantially as described.

8. In a signaling system, the combination with a plurality ofsignaling-circuits, of aplurality of electromagnets for sending signalsover these circuits, a main circuit including said electromagnets,unitary means in said main circuit for effecting the operation of allthe electromagnets, and means whereby the unitary means may berestricted to the substantially simultaneous operation of a lessernumber of the electromagnets than all, substantially as described.

9. In a signaling system, the combination with a plurality ofsignaling-circuits, of a plurality of electromagnets for sending signalsover these circuits, said electromagnets being included in circuitsindependent of the signalingcircuits, unitary means for effecting theoperation of all the electromagnets, and means whereby the unitary meansmay be restricted to the substantially simultaneous operation of alesser number of the electromagnets than all, substantially asdescribed.

10, In a signaling system, the combination with a plurality ofsignaling-circuits, of a plurality of electromagnets for sending signalsover these circuits, the said electromagnets being in circuitsindependent of the signaling-circuits, unitary means wherebyall of thecircuits including the electromagnets may be closed, and means wherebythe unitary means may be restricted to the substantially simultaneousoperation of a lesser number of the electromagnets than all,substantially as described.

11. In a signaling system, the combination with a plurality ofsignaling-circuits, of a plurality of electromagnets for sending signalsover these circuits, the said electromagnets being in circuitsindependent of the signaling-circuits, unitary means wherebyall of thecircuits including the electromagnets may be closed, and means foropening or rendering ineffective a circuit including one of the saidelectromagnets, whereby the unitary means may be restricted to thesubstantially simultaneous operation of a number of electromagnets lessthan all, substantially as described.

12. In a signaling system, the combination with a plurality ofsignaling-circuits, of a plurality of electromagnets for sending signalsover these circuits, a main circuit including said electromagnets,unitary means in said main circuit for effecting the operation of allthe electromagnets, and means whereby the unitary means may berestricted to the substantially simultaneous operation of a lessernumber of the electromagnets than all, substantially as described.

13. In a signaling system, the combination with aplurality ofsignaling-circuits, of a plurality of electromagnets for sending signalsover these circuits, a main circuit including said electromagnets,unitary means in said main circuit whereby all of the circuits includingthe electromagnets may be closed, and means whereby the unitary meansmay be restrict-ed to the substantially sim ultaneous operation of alesser number of the electromagnets than all, substantially asdescribed.

14. In a signaling system, the combination with aplurality ofsignaling-circuits, of a plurality of electromagnets for sending signalsover these circuits, a main circuit including said electromagnets,unitary means in said main circuit for effecting the operation of allthe electromagnets, and means whereby one of the said electromagnets maybe prevented from sending a signal while the remaining electromagnetsare being substantially simultaneously operated by the unitary means,substantially as described.

15. In a signaling system, the combination with a plurality ofsignaling-circui ts, of a plurality of electromagnets for sendingsignals over these circuits, a main circuit including saidelectromagnels, unitary means in said main circuit for effecting theoperation of all the electromagnets, and switching mechanism whereby oneof the said electromagnets may be prevented from sending a signal whilethe remaining electromagnets are being substantially simultaneouslyoperated by-the unitary means, substantially as described.

16. The combination with a plurality of signaling circuits, of aplurality of keys or switches for effecting signals in said circuits,electromagnets for operating said circuits, a main circuit includingsaid electromagnets, a 1n aster-key in said main circuit for controllingthe simultaneous operation of said keys, and switching mechanism forrendering any one of said keys irresponsive to actuations of saidmaster-key, substantially as described.

17. The combination with aplurality of signaling circuits, of aplurality of keys or switches for effecting signals in the circuits, amaster-key or switch for controlling the operation of the aforesaidkeys, electromagnets for the aforesaid keys controlled by themaster-key, a main circuit including said electromagnets and said masterkey, and switching mechanism for cutting an electromagnet out ofcircuit, whereby a lesser number than all of the keys may besubstantially simulta- IfO neously operated by the master-key,substantially as described. 7

18. The combination with a plural ityof subcircuits, including sendingand receiving instru1ncnts,of a plurality of? keys at a main station foreffecting signalsin said circuits, an indicating device included in eachof said circuits for indicating the operative condition of saidcircuits, electroinagnets for operating said circuits, a main circuitincluding said electromagnets, a master-key in said main circuit forcontrolling the simultaneous operation of said keys, and switchingmechanism for rendering any one of said keys irresponsive t0 actuationsof said master-key, substantially as described.

19. The combination with a plurality ofsubcircuits, including sendingand receiving instruments, of a plurality of keys at a main station forelfecting signals in said circuits, an indicating device included ineach of said circuits for indicating the operative condition of saidcircuits, electromagnets for operating said circuits, a main circuitincluding said elcctroinagnets, a master-key in said main circuit forcontrolling the simultaneous operation of said keys, a switch forrendering any one of said electroniagnets irresponsive to actuations ofsaid 1naster-key, and aplurality of contacts for said switch, one ofsaid con tacts being included serially in circuit with each of saidclectroniagnets, substantially as described.

20. The combination with a plurality of subcircuits, including sendingand receiving instruments, of a plurality of keys at a main station foreffecting signals in said circuits, a relay at the main station includedin each of said circuits for indicating the operative condition oi. saidcircuits, electromagnets for operating said circuits, a main circuitincluding said electromagnets, a master-key in said main circuit forcontrolling the simultaneous operation of said keys, and switchingmechanism for rendering any one of said keys irresponsive to actuationsof said master-key, substantially as described.

In witness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name this 11th day ofJanuary, A. D. 1902.

EDWVARD B. ELLICOTT.

